For the Institution and its members alike, the past month or so was heavily marked by milestones and achievements in which our core objectives found their fulfilment.
The Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on 29 June 2024 exemplified President Ir Eric Ma’s stated commitment to governance excellence. Ir Ma has been leading a Working Group that oversees a comprehensive Governance Review Study currently being conducted by a commissioned consultant. In this Workshop, he and the consultant’s representative encapsulated the Study’s progress and signposted its findings with a concise overview. Our members’ positive reception of this Workshop has provided an additional impetus to our ongoing endeavour to address their concerns over the Institution’s governance practices. Gratitude is due to them for their active participation and constructive feedback.
From 30 June to 4 July, an HKIE delegation, with Senior Vice President Ir Alice Chow in the lead, attended the International Council on Electrical Engineering (ICEE) Conference 2024 in Kitakyushu, Japan. The Conference’s theme was “TRANSformative Electrical Engineering for Future Society”. As one of the Conference’s organisers—along with The Institution of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ), The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers (KIEE), and The Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE)— the Institution’s involvement was comprehensive, with Past President Ir Prof C C Chan delivering a keynote speech on “New Journey of Energy Revolution and Automotive Revolution” and our Electrical Division being engaged in Super Sessions and Panel Discussions. It was an honour to have contributed to this global dialogue on electrical engineering’s development.
The recent past saw many of our members receiving accolades from different quarters, and I wish to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of them. Ir Prof Anderson Shum, for one, was honoured with the 15th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize for his pioneering work in All-aqueous Microfluidics Technology, which holds immense applicational value in the medical field. On the other hand, several members were recognised on the 2024 Honours List: Immediate Past President Ir Dr Barry Lee received the Medal of Honour for his contributions to the engineering profession; Honorary Fellow Ir Prof Lee Chack Fan was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal; and Past President cum Honorary Fellow Ir Prof C C Chan received the Gold Bauhinia Star. These formal recognitions underscore the critical role our members have always played in societal development. You may consult the list of HKIE awardees at "Honours and Awards" in the "Others" section, and the full list for this year on the government's website.
Strengthening our connection with the Greater Bay Area (GBA) remains a priority. On 10 July 2024, our Senior Vice President Ir Alice Chow represented the Institution at the CCGC World Chinese Entrepreneurs Summit. This high-profile event, organised by The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (CCGC), Hong Kong, provided an inclusive platform for exploring the implications of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for Hong Kong and other regions in the GBA. In particular, it discusses how Hong Kong, with its unique advantages, can seize on the vast opportunities opened up by RCEP. Ir Chow’s involvement provided an engineer’s perspective on this topic and highlighted our profession’s commitment to fostering closer ties and collaborative opportunities within the GBA.
In showing us the importance of STEM education in nurturing the next generation of engineers, Ir Chow has taken equally great pains. On 28 June, she attended the Opening Ceremony of the STEM Skills Learning Mechanical Flower Exhibition, part of the “【科創·起·承】青年科技創新教育 計劃” organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers. Through exhibitions of school projects in which STEM knowledge was given aesthetic applications, the event showcased the students’ variously manifested creativity and how that creativity can be cultivated by engineering knowledge.
As engineers who think ahead for the future generations, we find sustainability a useful starting point for thinking about how to change the world in our profession. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) have provided a framework in which we evaluate and plan our collective actions, something most worthy of advocation. To provoke discussions on these paradigm-shifting notions, our 19 Divisions have been producing discipline-themed videos on the UNSDGs, which are being released on our social media platforms. These videos aim to raise awareness and encourage sustainable practices within the engineering community. We are also in the process of developing an e-booklet about the UNSDG, which will serve as a valuable resource for our members and the broader public.
Moving on to the 50th year of the Institution, the first Council meeting was held on 25 July 2024 with a photo session of the Council Members including some of our Past Presidents, who are Honorary Members of the Council.
Appointment to standing committees
Members’ involvement in the work of the Institution has been the major impetus to progress year on year. Appointment of members onto about 22 standing committees in areas of planning, administration, learned society, qualifications and accreditation business of the Institution as well as the 22 Discipline Advisory Panels constituted an important item of the first Council meeting at the beginning of a session to take forward the various initiatives and plans for the year. The Council has also appointed a panel from which Boards of Inquiry may be formed for the purpose of considering and making recommendations to the Council in regard to any case of improper conduct of a member in accordance with the Constitution.
Co-option onto the Council for Session 2024/2025
The Council resolved to co-opt two members onto the Council for Session 2024/2025 with reference to the provision of the Constitution and we are pleased to report that Ir Danny HUNG Cheung Shew and Ir Prof Alexander WAI Ping Kong have been co-opted as co-opted members for the Session. We welcome them on board to join the Council for this Session.